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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Shouldn't It Be Obvious?

Welcoming CommitteeThe birds are lined up on the wire as I arrive home.

Have you ever wondered how everyone else seems to come up with these fabulous, entertaining, cutesy, profound ideas for blog entries? Well, so have I. So, I've gone in desperate search of some advice on blog writing.

There are several special interest sites which promote and educate bloggers:

Butterfly on a buddleiaThis picture just makes me smile!

The SITS Girls feature blogs daily, offer educational courses online--both live and recorded. They are the organizers of the Bloggy Boot Camp which is offered several times a year in different locations throughout the country. Their advice ranges from the inspirational to the practical for their 40,000 members.

Mary Jane's Farm has established GirlGab which is "blog roll central" for MaryJane Butters and the members of the Farmgirl Sisterhood. New farmgirl entries are highlighted daily, as well as blogs by the "official" Suburban, Rural, Ranch, Beach, City, and Mountain farmgirls.

Blogs.com is another categoried blog roll which offers top 10 lists. Bloggers can apply to be listed on the site and can purchase advertising.

After reading a number of these I have gleaned two essential strategies to be a successful blogger (which I'm probably not):

find a niche, and

be outrageous.

The second is easier than the first. That's where many bloggers are so good: they rant about extreme positions on hot-button issues which are sure to provoke flame wars. It certainly adds to the page loads. How much it adds to public discourse remains to be seen, but this strategy has allowed a number of writers to become digital sensations.

Sneakers on a limbLife can be a realwhirlwind at times!

The former strategy--niche writing--can build a following, but often within a smaller group. Usually less bombastic, the niche blog caters to its audience, but risks catering so slavishly that it blends into the fabric of the group.

I have a plan:

I'm going to write more about things I care about and worry less about appealing to an audience.

If I'm bombastic, well, that probably won't happen; it's just not my nature. If I cater to a niche, it's because I am or wish to be a part of that culture.

I am excited about future blog posts; I hope you find them interesting. Or nostalgic. Or cute. Or poignant. Or infuriating. Regardless of how you find them, I will continue to write them as long as I have something to say about living a life worth savoring.